HAVE you had your flu jag yet?

It is that time of year when your GP will be contacting you to get your influenza vaccination if you are in one of the groups most at risk.

In recent years the numbers of people eligible for the annual flu vaccination have expanded, with all older patients and those with chronic ailments such as asthma and diabetes invited to get the jag.

Remember that it offers protection only against the influenza virus, not all of the snuffles and coughs which are so prevalent over the winter. And it does not give you flu because the virus contained in the jag is inactive.

So with the season for these bugs upon us, it was of interest to me to see the results of a study which looked at the risk of catching the cold virus in those who are active compared to the inactive members of the population.

The study of 1,000 people found that staying active nearly halved the chances of catching one of the cold viruses.

And the infection was less severe in those who exercise.

Most adults in the UK suffer between two and five colds a year. The researchers asked participants to record their activity levels and any coughs or sniffles they had over a three-month period during the autumn and winter.

Results indicated those who were older, male and married and those with a healthy diet (especially eating plenty of fruit) had fewer infections.

However, the most striking finding was the near 50% reduction in those who were active compared to inactive members of the study. And not only was the frequency of infections reduced but also the severity, as measured by days of symptoms.

It has long been suggested that being active stimulates our immune system with a rise in the cells in our blood which fight off the virus particles as they enter our body, usually via the nose and mouth.

Though this effect is temporary, it explains why those who are regularly active derive the greatest benefit as they maintain their exercise.

Flu jags and being active both help to maintain good health during winter. But what should we do if we catch one of these viral illnesses?

Most of the viral respiratory infections are self-limiting, last a few days and may result in a fever, runny nose and a cough.

Exercising during any febrile illness is not recommended, so a few days' rest, some paracetamol, hot drinks, etc is best practice. Stay off work to reduce the risk to workmates until you feel better.

Don't return to activity until the fever has gone and you feel back to normal with your usual energy level. If in doubt, wait another day or two until you really are over the illness and return to activity gradually over the next week or so.

We are all now aware of the benefits of keeping active. While it is even harder on cold, wet nights to get out and about, there are many ways to keep fit. The key is to choose something you enjoy and will keep going.

Avoiding or reducing the misery of the cold is just another good reason to keep active.

The National Stadium Sports Health and Injury Clinic can be contacted on 0141 616 6161 and www.sportsmedicinecentre.org